Build a creative business in a noisy world

This month I declined an award at Georgia O'Keefe's ranch in New Mexico.I absolutely adore being a Mum and this week marked 16 years of that beautiful privilege. I think in society today it is often expected that women can do ALL of the things ALL of the time or that our careers blend with family life and there can't be any loopholes. This is not a an attack against gender roles it is simply my experiences but I know it's something that's important to put out there. And as you will see at the end of the video, my point is that I want to see how this ground work and all the sacrifices I made for my kids plays out . unlike business And workouts or controlling the food that goes into my mouth, I'm not gonna know about the emotional support and presence that I give to my kids now, how it will help them as little and large humans in the future.Sending love to all the mothers in business he understand where I'm coming from and he also feel a little sad sometimes when they think of the big opportunities that they set aside for their kids.

Aly shares her top ways to journey grief for when you get up in the morning until you hit the pillow at night. Her father died the week before her 8th birthday making grief a "friend" for many years. Use the practical Aly shares and take this 10 minutes to feel less alone as you journey loss no matter what stage you are at. Follow and subscribe for more of Aly's content.

Creatives can get ourselves into a real pickle about life, work and taking a blooming breath!! Here I chat about gathering perspective in all aspects of work and play so we can feel alive and well in our venture for a creative business in this noisy world.

The peaks and troughs of business can really be determined by our mood and how we engage with our creativity. Use my tips to figure out a way to understand how your creative patterns show in daily life or even seasonally.

It can be a dirty word when we are aiming to be progressive in our thinking and mindset. Today I share my latest and a few other failings which inevitably help me fail forward and will keep your perspective on all that happens day to day in your life and business.

I am all for showing our true selves and opinions with our audience But it must have a purpose and an end game to help others, not to start trouble. Today I share the ways in which I have started to own my own feelings and stand by the opinions without making it such a big deal that I compromise business and relationships. How to own your space and be considerate of others.

What is your work ethic like? How do you connect and engage with a community that will help you thrive? Aly shares her own hustle mentality from a young age and how it has served her well in building a successful business.

Creatives can write off the day by 9 am when we feel consumed or overwhelmed by workload. Use my top tips for coping with being de motivated so you can keep pushing for your goals.

How confident are you in yourself, your business and your everyday life? Here we chat about re bundling my business after covid, my big ears and my love of us all showing up as our best most confident selves in 2024. I'm alongside you!!

Despite my desire to have a fun video podcast with excellent edits, I have to wait! This episode challenges you on how you show up in the world as a creative and in general. Enjoy and thanks for following and waiting for this episode ! Subscribe so you catch the up and coming weeks. Book mentioned is called 'The Artist's way' Julia Cameron

Sometimes we have to put the blinkers on to encourage ourselves to focus. I loved the quiet of my January and February when I was training for the marathon but in today's episode I explain why that has shifted and I need to take stock. Physical health, family and the everyday has a huge impact on building your own business so today I guide you in what is an open invitation to get clear and to allow yourself the quiet to make significant motion in your creative career. Enjoy the episode. Thanks for listening. www.alyharte.com

Andrew Trimble is best known for his expertise on the rugby pitch sporting an Ulster or Irish rugby jersey. I have known him a long time and loved this opportunity to hear about his ability to utilise skills and mindsets from a professional sports career into a tech company where he is the Founder and CEO. Married to Anna and has three kids who keep him busy. You'll enjoy the fun as well as depth of this interview. www.alyharte.com

Trust is what life is built on. Relationships, work, friendships and even our own parenting. In this episode I share ways that you can build trust in your creative career with your audience. Thanks for listening, head over to www.alyharte.com for more.

Pete Snodden, radio presenter and broadcaster, Northern Irish personality and a very focused family man. I have met Pete a number of times through my husband. His excitement for life and honesty around his father's death is worth a listen. A great start to my new series ‘Stepping Into Your Space'! www.alyharte.com

It's not unusual for creatives to take a lack of sales or refund request personally. It's in our nature and it's because we pour our heart and soul into the work we produce. BUT reviewing why sales are down and even better why and when sales are up is just the ticket to show how we can plan to grow and adapt for success. This year I vow to review weekly, monthly and annually- not just the figures but the business structure and content on a whole. You can do the same and see what is best for marking your stake in the creative industry. Enjoy. www.alyharte.com

This episode is dedicated to my previous PA Gemma who sadly passed away at the end of last year. She was one of the first to organise my calendar! I am so thankful to her and to my current PA Sharon for teaching me that it is ok to plan in advance. Even if things happen and it doesn't always work out as planned, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try! An organised life will help with growth, ideas put into written form and shared will bring back energy that will carry you. This episode I am alongside you about why creatives don't always like to plan and how we can change our mind-set for the better. www.alyharte.com

I felt like last week we didn't fully unravel the content around social media and where our attention is. Today, while I record and as you read there has never ever been a more demanding time for our attention on all platforms. News, social media, e-mail, our text messages. We are absolutely bombarded and we must, if we want to grow a successful creative business, be intentional about where our attention is. Otherwise we are just floating and that is no use to anyone. Today I share the reason where I was twenty years ago and I discuss where on earth my focus has been since I was painting nude models in Belfast Art College at the age of eighteen! Enjoy and please do subscribe so you don't miss the weekly content I share. www.alyharte.com

Wow! That's a hard working title if ever I saw one. This week I start my 2022 as I mean to go on- energised, accepting of myself and growing deeper into my work, with my friendships and in every part of my life inside and outside the art studio. I am living proof that a little less social media can enhance your practice and help to keep the flippancy of the online world a little further from your creative flow. I explain how and why I am motivated to keep this quiet life up. Also mentioned are some of my very exciting guests this year. Enjoy and please do subscribe so you don't miss the weekly content I share. www.alyharte.com

I encourage you to take risks but to know your boundaries, to learn from me but not to copy me, to breathe air in and to let go of the weight of others expectations on you and your business. Thanks for following me in 2021, here's to more podcasts about building a creative business and living well in 2022. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Recently I had a troll on my Facebook who questioned the pricing I had on an abstract work of art. Another troll followed under it asking how many I had sold. I wanted to reply and say I had sold three the previous week but I knew it would get me nowhere. Instead I worked hard on letting it float over me… after a sleepless night over thinking the price of my work which I know deep down is the right price or should even be higher. In this episode we discuss how to detect when you are pricing too low and when it is time to change. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Thanks

I listened to Joe Wicks on Ron Chatterbys podcast once and when asked if he ever goes off piste and doesn't exercise, or if he eats junk food Joe explained- he asked us, the audience listening, to think of how we feel when we have a good day. What we eat, what we start the say with, etc. This helped me reinforce my own need for routine and especially in the morning, in order to thrive. I am not always consistent but when I am everything can be dealt with alongside less drama and more intention and focus. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Thanks

At times we use the term “ perfectionist” to describe ourselves when sometimes that is not the case. It can be that we are crippled by the expectation of others so we strive for praise or to feel accepted. Perfectionism can be broken down and in this episode I do that with building a creative business in mind. Settle your mind and watch your productivity grow. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Thanks

To be asked to speak at any event is an honour, especially when it is the school where I studied my A Level exams. The stepping stone on my ladder to embracing all things art! Many academics reside in Friends School Lisburn and have gone before me so this opportunity to share my passion for self-acceptance, building a creative business and being present in today's noisy world felt great. Enjoy and please share with any teenagers in your home . Thanks for listening. For more podcasts head over to my YouTube channel or check out my website www.alyharte.com

YOU are the one who will get you to where you need to be in life and in business. My honest words about kids and adults using filters to mask who their are through to me thinking my art in the hands of Rory McIlroy would be what makes me successful. It's not! Don't underestimate the power of you own worth and drive. You've got this. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Thanks

This discussion is not just about skin. It runs deeper as we discuss wellness on the whole, kids as they navigate a social media world of perfection. The changes in the skin industry and why Joanne wants to know each person and the gaps in their lives where she can use her holistic and wellness centred approach to help. I used to be pretty enthused by beauty which I imagine will surprise some of you. However, that changed when I met Joanne of Skinn Therapy. Her professional approach is what has guided me to take better care of my skin, inside and out. Along with Samantha King who you can listen to if you scroll back through two series ago, I feel like I have been educated. Enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening. Be sure to check out my other podcasts and share with a friend who might also enjoy them. For more head over to my YouTube and give me a follow on social media @alyharte or www.alyharte.com Thanks

Five years ago Estelle Wallace and I trained together at her previous gym. At the time I had a fitness account alongside my wellbeing blog (which you can still see linked to my website) and had a ball with Estelle in her natural habitat. We also both share a love for Jesus. Estelle is a fitness trainer and her business Shrink coach is fascinating. She is an inspiration as she shares about growing her online presence through the pandemic with free YouTube workouts for all levels and abilities. She is so full of life and is deeply rooted in faith. Her gentle wisdom will see you through today and remind you that you can start anywhere and start now with changing your life physically and emotionally. Thanks for listening. Be sure to share with a friend.

I met Brahm Gallagher through Bayburn fitness where I currently train five days a week. He is a personal trainer and from the first training session I knew he was great fun and openly passionate about the role he plays in people's lives and wellbeing. Here we discuss Brahm's career in the army, his move from LA to Northern Ireland and how we can show our kids by example, the best way to eat and live and move. I feel like every trainer should practice what they preach and it is evident that Brahm does just that! Check out my YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or head over to www.alyharte.com Thanks for Listening

To give full disclosure on this chat- I cried after we ended the recording. Kirsty shared thoughts about life and how we all carry wounds which we can mask- so much so that I felt like she was speaking to my soul and the tears flowed! Kirsty unravels what reflexology is and how what we have on the top of our foot is what we show the world. Underneath on the sole of our foot is where reflexology can discover many physical and emotional elements of our character and bodies. An insightful and emotive discussion. For more check on my YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and head over to www.alyharte.com Thanks for Listening.

Suzanne is a primary school teacher turned yoga instructor and has the most gentle aura. You can sense this through the airwaves and the video of zoom during our interview. She explains the need for community (online and offline) as well as taking self-care to a deeper level than ticking off a workout routine or bubble baths. Your health is here and now! I have collaborated with Suzanne in the past for a children's workshop involving yoga and art. Suzanne also joined me for a 1:1 class a few years ago and she opens up about her heart defect and the way creativity helped her to manage high levels of stress. So much so that she followed her gut and the direction of her life evolved into Authentic Yoga by Suzanne. Enjoy this episode. For more head to my YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram and website, www.alyharte.com

Louise of Little forget me nots joins me to discuss how there is healing in creativity. As a bereaved parent Louise found that being creative through embroidery and punch needle she could find comfort and tune into herself a little each time she created. Healing in art is something that I am very passionate about and having Louise discuss this in depth- her involvement with community arts, the little forget me not trust that she has founded and how her workshops bring people together, will warm your heart and help you to think about life positively. Hands and help through fabric. Head over to my YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and website www.alyharte.com for more.

I have had experience with Eileen in her professional capacity at Waymaker therapy over the past year. My third son has pulled his hair out since he was 6 months old and we were at a loss of how we could help him. Eileen reached out on social media and I immediately connected with her gorgeous caring energy. Join us in this conversation as we discuss why therapy works, how therapy is not just for children and why creative practices are good for your soul. If you enjoyed this episode head over to my website www.alyharte.com, Instagram and Facebook page and my YouTube channel for much more. Thanks for watching and listening.

I sat in my car in the development where we had our first home. Nostalgia and a real sense of urgency with this episode. I wanted to share why I love well-being and have felt strongly about women knowing and loving themselves from their brain to their bones for a long time. This next series in the podcast is called 'From the Inside Out' and it's where I interview therapists and people in the well-being industry who help me to unravel why life can be even richer if we do work on the inside as well as the exterior. Join me on this journey!

Often in life we grumble and moan when we feel without or not enough but how many times have we looked at the choices that WE made to get us to that place? In this episode I discuss my own choices and why I have learned to deal with the choices I make... and to moan a little less than I used to!!

Today I am recording while on location. Thoughts around leaning in to the not knowing and how I don't have a formula but can give you the space and the confidence as I lead by example in the creative industry. Please follow me on social media, Instargam, Facebook, YouTube and check out my website www.alyharte.com for more.

The long awaited guest appearance from my other half- my husband Michael! This episode was both fun and odd to record- mainly because we rarely sit just the two of us to discuss my work and the effect it has on our family. Here is a cool reflection on what it's like to be the parter of a creative and how we made life work through the dark times like when I miscarried at 14 weeks or when Mike applied for a promotion and it didn't work out. Enjoy and thanks for listening.

Why making the right decisions about your career will help your life experiences. Daily acts. Pick the journey over the destination. Today we go a little deeper into why being present will always make the process of being a creative in business work. Look at where you have come from, learn gratitude and know that goals come and go. They are super but the roller-coaster ride that we can sit tight in along the way to that goal is way more fun. Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Head over to my YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or website www.alyharte.com for more.

When my boys were tiny and when friends have babies I am always talking about how we can only deal with one nappy, one sleep, one cry at a time. Business and living the creative lifestyle is no different. Sometimes we have to sit in the icky bit and force ourselves to enjoy it. Thanks for listening! For more please follow me over on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and at www.alyharte.com

Be present. In business, in life and in decision making. One of the most important things we can do is to recognise time and to sit in the moment that is in front of us. Today I discuss how we can view activities a bit like children and how it will help us to live life in the best most fulfilling way. Thanks for listening. Head over to my YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook or website www.alyharte.com for more.

Four tips for helping you to stand out in your creative business. It is important to be able to engage with people, to produce content that is line with your brand and to seek out new challenges and relationships in order to thrive! In this episode I discuss how you can stand out! Standing out in business can be in the content you make, the company you keep and the products or service you offer. Get intentional about them today with my tips. Thanks for listening. For more head over to my YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or website - www.alyharte.com

Trends in business. Don't be a trend. Long game only! Trends are tempting to fall into the trap of in business or creatively and even in life. I encourage you in this episode to stay true to yourself and your talent. If you enjoyed this podcast head over to my YouTube channel or website www.alyharte.com to find out more. Thanks for listening.

Sometimes we complain when customers annoy us or don't understand but that's not their fault!!! This episode is about taking responsibility for problems or issues in your business and/or your creative flow. I share tips on how to change that for the better so everyone's experience improves. Enjoy Listening!

Now that my business is transitioning again with a view to more paintings and podcasts instead of prints- here is an insight into my dreams, fears and hopes. Along with more information about the way I view my life and work in 2021. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

In a world where we are often encouraged to suppress our emotions and be stoic, today I encourage you to get more emotional! Learning how to read our own emotions helps us to know ourselves, our clients and our relationships on a deeper more fulfilling level. It's a time in social media when everyone is talking about life as an open book but how about we strip it back so that we know exactly how much we want to share and the message our body language, our "posts" and our words carry. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

My website is changing and I have started to be more in tune with my feelings- I know I felt overwhelmed and needed to clear space. Not just space in my wardrobe but in my business. During this episode I share about the clearance of prints on my website, the fear I feel around sales and change as well as the reasons you should be clearing space constantly so that you grow significantly. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. You can follow me on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and also follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

From a community artist who thought that getting her art in front of famous people would be the golden ticket to almost missing out on paying my student loan because I earned so little at the beginning of my career!! This is the second part of my story in becoming a professional artist who has built her business from the ground up with no financial support (apart from her husband's salary that was split on every bill and any expenses as well as the baby's nappies), I go a little deeper into the way I have journeyed this path. I hope it inspires you to keep going. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

Now that the podcast has grown and my audio has improved (slightly!!!) I thought you would like to know where my art career began. From the foundation course at art college to lost University forms and taking photographs of families, I have a number of job skills and micro stories to share of my time as a self employed artist. This is the start of my story. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

In a world where people complain about the colour of your shoes to the content you post on social media, here I explain why intentionally seeking joy instead of complaining will serve you better. Your business will improve, your everyday life and your relationships will progress when you actively stop complaining. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

Lisa’s positive yet honest approach to relationships will encourage you in your day to day life and the relationships inside and outside your business. I have gained wisdom from Lisa in my journey as a Mother, a wife, a friend and business woman. She gives us tools during this episode to place value on the importance of communicating in relationships. A refreshing episode to finish this part of the hindsight series with helpful ideas for moving forward with our best foot. If you would like to subscribe to my podcast please do and you can share it with your friends. I love to read and very much appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review. Follow all my work via my website www.alyharte.com Thanks for listening!

I first met Owen when he was the pastor of CFC a church in Belfast that our kids called " the fun church"! This was linked to them being allowed to play football after they learned scripture! Owen is a family man and has a great heart for helping others to communicate on a powerful level. We have been working on a collaborative project for a while now so in the interim while we are still working on our book, I thought it would be great to share one of our creative chats on the podcast for you. We discuss the loopholes creatives fall privy to in the education system, how Owen structures his writing days and why understanding your personality type can help you in business, within your household and your view of the world.

As creatives we have an opportunity to own the day to day tasks and thoughts we have. This stretches into how we act, the way our personal brand is classified and viewed by others and, in how we approach new opportunities. So, it is not new for me to share with you that I have faith and in many ways throughout my own day I rely on faith and my friendship/relationship with God to help me navigate that. Gareth is a Pastor in Orangefield Presbyterian church and Jonny works for The Alpha course. They had me on their podcast ‘ Greenways’ recently and I invited them onto mine because discussion was so good. We joked about them not being “preachy” on my creative podcast but to be honest I am thrilled that they shared their honest stories of faith in life and work as well as pieces of scripture that I know you can hold onto to enrich your soul. Enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.